[Laurie Whitwell] Special report - Inside Jadon Sancho's Manchester United exile

Jadon Sancho is showing no sign of backing down in his dispute with Erik ten Hag, prompting discussions at Old Trafford of a January exit strategy. But there was a time when a resolution seemed possible.

On Monday, September 11, following breaks abroad during the international window, Ten Hag took Sancho through videos of training to explain why he felt the player’s output had been insufficient.

The clips pertained to United’s final session before the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on September 3, in which Sancho was asked to replicate the opposition style against the starting XI Ten Hag had selected. As usual under this Manchester United manager, those on the bench or not selected at all were obliged to mimic what Ten Hag’s team would be facing in a practice game.

Sancho knew he would not be featuring from the off at the Emirates and, in Ten Hag’s eyes, he failed to commit to the drill as expected. The pair had words. There was an issue over Sancho’s pressing, which Ten Hag attempted to clarify when the two met. Sancho disagreed with Ten Hag’s view, a point he had already made in a more public setting.

After the loss at Arsenal, Ten Hag had said of Sancho: “On his performance in training, we didn’t select him. You have to reach the level every day at Manchester United.”

Sancho snapped back later that evening on social media, writing that any suggestions his training was not up to standard were “completely untrue”. He claimed he had been made a “scapegoat” for a long time.

Such a direct response was viewed within United as Sancho calling Ten Hag a liar, and the only remedy for that would be deleting the post — which happened — and an apology — which did not. The details of how close Sancho came to saying sorry are disputed by both sides but, on that Monday after the video session and in the 72 hours that followed, there were talks around exactly how the player could provide contrition.

Ten Hag wanted an apology to his face, which the club would then communicate publicly as a means of contextualising Sancho’s return to the squad. Sancho pushed back against this double acknowledgment of wrongdoing. His representatives, including lawyers, were involved in the process, which ended in a deadlock. There was no request from United for Sancho to apologise to Ten Hag in front of the squad or to them.

United then released a statement on September 14 saying Sancho would be training away from the first team for the foreseeable future, “pending resolution of a squad discipline issue”.

Since then Ten Hag’s position has not softened, with Sancho also unwavering. So instead of training alongside the rest of the first-team squad, Sancho has done his daily work either solo or with academy players. Mark Dempsey, head coach of the under-21s, has put Sancho through his paces at times.

Sancho is not allowed in the senior facilities, so has parked his car near the academy building and got ready there before going out to adjacent pitches. While changing into training gear, he has to lock himself inside the academy dressing room owing to safeguarding directives, ensuring he does not inadvertently mix with any underage players.

He is also prohibited from using the first-team canteen. Instead, his food is brought to him in a lunch box across the walkway, which is lined by a mural listing all the players to have graduated from the academy to senior football.

To those academy players Sancho has mixed with during his exile, he has made a good impression. In the week Ten Hag’s team went to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Sancho watched United’s under-18s against Nottingham Forest at Carrington. He stayed afterwards and answered questions from teenagers at the start of their professional careers. Those who have trained with him say he has been polite, which may seem like a minimal requirement but it is not a given when stars address their juniors.

In other ways, Sancho has done his own thing. He flew to New York for a holiday after the Arsenal game, being photographed at a birthday party for basketball star John Wall, and during the October international break, he was seen at Cirque Le Soir nightclub in London. Users on EA Sports FC 24, the football computer game, noted his profile tag in action as kick-off approached for United’s match with Bayern and, on another occasion, in the early hours of the morning. These are not actions to endear Ten Hag.

Indeed, those with an understanding of Sancho’s mindset believe he is now resolute in his stance over the required apology. In his view, other players have been underwhelming in training and still played.

There are also some United staff members who believe Sancho could have been handled differently. He responds to warmer management and they feel private cajoling and encouragement may have kept him onside, although they accept they are not the ones in Ten Hag’s position.

People in the club hierarchy insist Ten Hag has tried everything to get Sancho firing, giving him a three-month break from the club last season by organising training away from the United glare at Dutch amateur side OJC Rosmalen. Sancho’s time-keeping had been a recurring issue and his application levels this season have now left this as the only option, in Ten Hag’s mind.

Ten Hag trying him as a false nine in pre-season was a way of incorporating Sancho in a different position to the right wing. Former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Sancho preferred to play on the left, which Ten Hag has also sensed. That provokes questions about due diligence for a player tracked for three summers who joined United for £73million (now $88.5m), given the left wing is clearly Marcus Rashford’s best role.

Ten Hag’s preference for Antony comes, for the most part, because the Brazilian follows instructions and wants to play there. A struggle to find his groove in the side perhaps reflects Sancho’s general unhappiness at United, although he would insist he will play anywhere the manager wants.

Sancho was aware of the reason he was dropped for the Arsenal game. Other players selected in the squad, such as Facundo Pellistri, Hannibal Mejbri and Daniel Gore, had done what was asked in training. Ten Hag knew before arriving at the Emirates he would not sugarcoat the reason for Sancho’s absence when asked by the media. Team-mates were said to be surprised at Sancho’s subsequent social media post given they knew what had happened in the training session.

Those who know Ten Hag say he demands a lot from his players. He believes that approach is necessary given United are supposed to be at the top of the industry. If players do not deliver, he will give them second chances and third chances but at some point, he draws the line. Sancho, like Cristiano Ronaldo before him, reached the limit.

Ten Hag believes the ball is in Sancho’s court. The player has to apologise personally, and accept that United can publicise that apology, and also work hard to get his place back. Otherwise, there will be no return. Ten Hag is determined to exert his authority on a club that has experienced problems over discipline. Relenting now would, he feels, diminish the respect he holds.

Football director John Murtough has tried to mediate, guiding Sancho towards an apology. Team-mates have also encouraged Sancho to say sorry to get his career restarted. Some, however, believe Ten Hag was harsh to criticise Sancho publicly.

The Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union, has held conversations with the club and offered its support to Sancho. This is still considered to be a live situation full of sensitivities.

It seemed for a few fleeting seconds in United’s press conference before the Champions League tie with Copenhagen there may have been a thawing in the stand-off.

When asked about players coming back from the sidelines, some thought Ten Hag replied that “Sancho” was in contention. Sky Sports made a social media post to that effect. Ten Hag had, in fact, said “Sergio”, referring to Sergio Reguilon, and was privately stunned anybody could think he would end the dispute in such a nonchalant manner.

Instead, the matter appears unresolvable, which is why United are looking to the January window for alternative solutions.

Saudi Arabian clubs were made aware of Sancho’s availability before their summer market closed, but the player and his representatives did not entertain any late move. United placed a £65million asking price on a player who joined the club in July 2021. A loan may now be viable too.

The Saudi route is seen as the most plausible, however, because European teams will struggle to match Sancho’s wages of more than £200,000 per week. Borussia Dortmund, his former club, could not afford even half that salary.

United made enquiries with other clubs, including Dortmund, in the summer but nothing came to fruition and it is understood the Bundesliga team are not looking to do a deal for him in January. For all his brilliant performances in Germany, oversleeping and timekeeping were issues at times there too.

Juventus have been linked with an approach and some in the industry believe Sancho’s connections to London, the city he grew up in, make Chelsea a possible option.

Any move would need Sancho’s agreement and as Ten Hag has discovered, getting that can be easier said than done.